I couldn’t believe the scale. I stood looking at it like it had somehow betrayed me. Overall, I was doing OK since starting the HMR program. Still keeping off over 50 pounds, still a whole lot healthier than I was 25 years ago when I first lost my weight. But still, I needed to get back on the weight loss wagon again.

Full of both hopeful anticipation and dread, I started the weight loss phase again in September of 2009. I lost almost 15 pounds the first week. Not typical, but I’ll take it. With the support and coaching of the HMR program staff, the weight kept coming off. Four pounds this week, three pounds the next, four pounds the following week. Over the 20 weeks I was on the diet, I lost an average of 3¾ pounds a week, for a total of 75 pounds. Together with my initial weight loss I had lost over 100 pounds.

Boy, what a difference those 75 pounds make! As expected, my cholesterol, blood pressure, and triglycerides all dropped. But as a bonus I was sleeping much better, small hills and stairs don’t make me breathe hard anymore (I barely notice them), have a lot more energy, and am mentally sharper. Losing weight is like getting younger again - what a deal!

Needless to say, my family, co-workers, friends, and family doctor are thrilled with my weight loss – something you can’t hear enough when going through the rigors of dieting.

I’m now joining the maintenance phase of the program. My weight is still dropping slowly, which is great. Will I keep the weight off? I feel confident because I’m staying with the program, and plan on keeping as many weight loss behaviors as possible in my life over the next many years. Stay tuned.

UPDATE: November 2011
It's been over 9 months since I lost that weight, and I'm keeping 100% of it off. Keeping the shakes and entrees in my general eating plan has been huge! Shakes made in a blender with lots of ice is my new friend.